Acetylene-gas generator.



F. F. NOVAK.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. ms.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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F. F. NOVAK. ACETYLENE ,GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION man MAR. H. 1913.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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F. F. NOVAK.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1913.

1 1 62,708 v Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET a.

q vbtmeooeo I 5 woe wlioz F. F. NOVAK.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1913.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

5 vwe wboz stares earners? osnicii.

FRANK F. NOVAK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Patented Nov. 3-19, 1915.

g og Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1913. Serial No. 753,614.

To all "whom it may concern:

me it known that l, FRANK l NOVAK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident y ly new York, county and State of the same name, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Acetylene-Gas Generators,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators and particularly to that class in which the gas is generated by the action of water upon calcium carbid in any desired quantity ithin the capacity of the apparatus.

The objects are to provide means for posi-.

tive automatic control therein so as to avoid extremes either of excessive or insutlicient production of gas. To combine with the apparatus meal s for washing and purifying the as, means to prevent clogging of the apgiiaratvs and its various appurtenances, and means for replenishing the carbid without ceasing the operation of gas making, it beingpractical to recharge the same if need be at night without artificial light. And

linall to provide a gas a 3 aaratus of Sim ale construction, easily charged, absolutely automatic, certain and safe in its action. Its objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation in perspective of the entireapparatus as installed for operation. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of the same, parts being broken away exposing the interior. 3 is a partial plan and *tional view taken on a line immediately above the gas tank shell. Fig. i is a sectional view taken on line l4: of Fig. 3, showing the interior construction. Fig. 5 is a sect onal view hrough the condenser taken on me cf Fig. Fig. 6 is aperspective detail illustrating the positive meansof water control. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the trays used in the carbid holding chambers. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carbid chamber closures. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the carbid holding chambers. d showing the water supply controlling means, and Fig. 11 is a similar view of a modified means for the same purpose.

The device consists essentially of a gas 10 is a perspective viewbeing cylindrical in shape while the base is preferably made rectangular and adapted to rest upon any suitable foundation.

Within the gastank is a loosely fitted gas bell 22 adapted to move freely up and down therein being guided by brackets 23, provided with ball bearings at 23 so as to avoid friction which might cause fluctuations in gas pressure, the same being secured at opposite sides of the domeshaped top 2%, and slidable upon the guides 26 arranged on the outside of the gas tank 20 at its top; these guides are connected by a cross bar 27 acting as a brace between the guides which are provided with collars 28 acting as stops against which the brackets 23 may contact atthe extreme limit of upward motion of the as bell 22.

Upon one side of the gas tank 20 near.

ply system or a reservoir provided for the purpose.

It is to be understood that the tank 30 1s open to its full height to the water space between the gas tank 20 and the gas hell 22 so that any water in the tankis freely discharged into the space.

In order to maintain a constant level when the apparatus is working normally, the float operates the valve as before described, but if the bell descends within the gas tank for any cause, to a landing position in consequence of an unsuiiicient supply of gas, the water supply is completely shut off by the following means :Secured on top of the dome 2-l is a hook-shaped member 38 downturned for engaging with the loop 39 of a metal tape 4:0, or its equivalent, the lower end of which engages with the float valve lever 82, the tape or band passing between pulleys ll mounted on a bracket 42 supported at the edge of the gas tank. It will be understood that this last mentioned device becomes operative only when the gas bell hiops below itsnormal working level as ordinarily the book 38 1s above and out to render the apparatus as tree from tinctuatious in pressure as possible, otherwise the hook might be direct connected to the tape;

A siphon in the form of a bent tube 1s disposed over the edge of the gas tank 20, the interior member 35 being upturned near its end 46 and provided with a finely meshed metal not or sieve at? preferably globular or convex, the same preventing any undesirable matter from entering the pipe which is ;operatively connected to the gas bell The location of the siphon intake sti'with respect to the top of the gas tank 20 is such tuat should the bell, to which the siphon is attached, rise abnormally, the intake will be brought above the water seal, completely cutting off the rater supply to the carbid and hence cause the machine tocea making At the hi glrest point of the siphon in the bend connecting the members t and 48,

is a pipe 160 having a cock 161 controlling thepassage between the filling or charging nozzle 162 and the interior of the siphon providing convenient means for starting the same into operation after any period of rest. The outer member 48 extends downwardly alongside the tank 20 and has a bend at its lower end 4-9 to which is connected by a spring hinge, 50, a curved member 51, its opposite end being normally disposed between the front and rear walls of the drain box 52 attached to the tank 20. This drain box 52 is open at the top 53 and also along the side 5t adjacent to the siphon except for a short distance above its lower, rounded end, the closed portion forming a cup 55 whose edge acts as an abutment 56 so that when the siphon and bell are moved down, relative to the gas tank and drain box, the curved tubular member 51 is caused to pivot upon the hinge 50 opening the joint in the normally communicating passage between it and the other members 48 and 4:9 of the siphon, allowing any water which may be contained therein to flow out and efi ectually cutting off the further passage of water therethrough until the siphon has been raised bodily with reference to the drain box 52 and the spring hinge 50 has acted to restore the parts to normal condition; this arrangement is best shown in Fig. 11, while the modification indicated in Fig. 10 pro vides other means to prevent the egress of water from the part 51 to within the cup make contact with the rubber washer 62 norinally pres ed upwardly against it by means of the spring within thecyllnder; 1f now the bell and siphon descend, the fiat horis .7

rontally disposed end of thetube 51 will squarely contact with the washer 62 there' by preventing the passage of water", but b cause of the flexibility of the spring 63 the siphon may continue to descend for some dis"ance farther during which time the pasr remains closed. 7 r i It is to be understood thateither form of these water passage controlling means may be used as precautionary safeguards operable only when the tank is devoid of gas or so nearly in that condition to require attention. I

The lower end of the drain box 52 is recessed downwardly forming acup 55 and is provided with a swivel ccck 65 the spout 66 of which is capable of being turned so that the stream passing therefrom may enter into either of the several compartments in the tray 67 immediately below, they being at? ranged in a circular arc. The partitions .68

between the comparti'nents in the tray 67' are formed with a series of openings 69 so that it the water is permitted to rise in the compartment to the heig it of the openings it will flow from one to the next adjoining.

' In Fig. 11 a similar swivel cock 65 is used to drain the cup 55, the spout 66 being provided with a telescopically sliding member 66; this is done so as to enable the discharge to enter any of the compartments formed by the partitions 68 in'the tray '67 whichin-this case is made rectangular and 1 not curved as before described; openings 69 are similarly formed through the walls of the partitions for the automatic transmission of water from one compartment to another when the first acquires an excessive quantity. Each of the several compartments have individual pipes 70 extending downward and arranged to discharge into its corresponding carbid chamber V i If for any cause the watershould exceed the quantity capable of being held in any one otthe carbid chambers, it will back up in the pipe leading from its corresponding compartment in the tray 67or 67 and from there be led to the next adjacent compart ment, 7 Enough however would remain in that compartment so that it could be detected by the insertion of an operators finger-show-r ing that the carbid in that particular cham ber had become exhausted or that for some reason was inoperative, In this case, the

swivel cock 65 is turned to the next compartment whereupon the exhausted carbid chamber may be examined and re-charged.

75, each compartment being'ada-pted tohold a certain amount of carbid; water entering the first compartment from the pipe 70 causes gas to form continuously until the carbid is exhausted; when the water has reached the level of the openings 76 formed in the side wall it will set upthe same action in the next compartment and so continue until all of the carbid in the several compartments has become exhausted which will take place in one after the other as the Water rises to the various levels of the openings 76; each carbid receptacle is provided with a swinging drawer pull or operating handle 77 for convenience in handling.

Over all the compartments except thefirst, in each carbid receptacle, which should be charged half full only, is a plate 78 acting as a cover and preventing the carbid from rising beyond the top edges and clogging the gas conveying means, which it might do by reason of swiveling when saturated; in each compartment in the carbid receptacles is placed a thin metal tray 80 having sides 81 loosely fitting within the V compartments; these side members are provided with a lift ting bail 82,.vh1eh also acts as a brace between them, and has a loop 83, formed centrally therein in which'a bent rod 84c may be inserted when raising the plate; also in the bottom plate are holes 85 in which other rods or the like may be inserted when dumping the contents, that is the gas exhaustedcarbid; the trays being provided for holding the carbid in such manner as to be conveniently operated without soiling the operator and for emptying the receptacle expeditiously and in a cleanly manner.

The covers 88 of the carbid ohambersx72 are provided with gaskets 89 so that they may be sealed hermetically; thecovers'are further provided with lugs 90 formed integral at the top and bottomrespeotively; these lugs serve to guide a clamp-bar 91 having forks 92 with iii-turned prongs 93' extending alongside the lugs and engaging with flanged projections 96 extending outwardly from the base 21; a hand operable set screw 95 is provided in the bar 91 for drawing the covers tightly into position and an integral handle 97 is formed with the cover plate 88 forconveniencein operating the same.

On the inner surface of the gasket 89 and secured to hold it in position is a sheet metal plate 98 having an inwardly turned flange 99 adapted to enter the open end of the carbid chamber, centering and properly locating the cover 88 in correct position for clamping, thus avoiding any difficulty and enabling the operation to be performed by the sense of touch alone.

The foregoing arrangement provides means for accurately centering the clamp and cover by the sense of touch alone so that the operation can be performed even in the dark and withoutdanger of misplacement of parts. a

Each chamber is independent so that one may be charged singly or more as may be desired; thus it will be obvious that gas making may continue uninterruptedly even if one chamber be withdrawn.

Returning to the tank 30, before described, when the float is depressed, as at the initial operation, Water. enters the gas 7 tank 20 and will continue to do so until the float rises. The siphon being charged begins to act automatically discharging water through. the cup and swivel cook into any of the compartments in thetray 67,

fromwhence it is delivered to the carbid chambers 72 through the pipes formed into traps at their lower ends and entering the charged receptacle 73, starts the formation of gas. To each of the chambers '72 are connected discharge pipes 100 the same extending up through the base into the tank 20 just below the normal water level at which point they are connected by fittings 100 to short cross members in turn having fittings 101 from which the pipes 101 extend downward into the washing chamber 102 nearly to its bottom; thus the gas is cooled by itspassage through the pipes 100 enveloped in the water; the fittings 100 and 101 are provided with removable closures in their openings'opposite the pipe entrances thereby affording ready'means for cleaning out the pipes without removal.

The washing chamber 102 may be of any approved form, preferably cylindrical as shown, and rests Within the gas tank over the'c'arbid chambers; it is made water-tight, being provided with a cover103 through which the several pipes 100enter. Means for maintaining a supply of water therein are provided by the inlet pipe 10%, the same extending out through the tank 20 where it is upturned as'at 105 and furnished with an enlarged filling nozzle 106 readily accessible for convenience in pouring in water as from a bucket. 7

Besides washing the gas and freeing it of impurities the water in the washing chamber 102 acts as a seal efl'ectually preventing the return into the pipes of gas discharged into the chamber.

An outlet or drain pipe 107 extends from the opposite side of the washingchamber outwardly through the tank and is provided with a cock v108 so that the cont'entsof the chamber may be drained as often as may is required, and replenished by the inlet nozzle 106 or both Working in conjunction as they must be when the apparatus lsmaking gas; this arrangement gives a thorough passageeffectually cleaning out any sediment,- 7

The gas entering the washing chamber 102 from the pipes rises up through the water therein, which retains the ammonia,

variable-through the process of making and the amount withdrawn.

. From the bell 21 the gas s taken through the pipe 112, the upper end of which ex.- tends above the water level, the lower enterring, a condensation chamber locatedin the base at the rear of the carbid chambers and having a flanged open portion extending out beyond the base casing; a plate cover 116 and gasket 117 are provided for this opening adapted to be rigidly secured by appropriate bolts and nuts 118; this opening permits of'ready vaccessibility to the interior of the condensation chamber in order to make connections, repairs andt-he like therein. This condensation chamber 115 is made tight to hold aquantity of water acting as a seal to the inlet 112, the same having'a member extending'belo'w the water surfaceand also a discharge pipe 120 extending laterally outward beyond the base; the chamber is further supplied with a safety or blow off pipe 121 in case of anexcessive pressure; also through the cover is a pipe 122 extending up into the gas bell cap which latter has a depending cylindrical member 123 acting 1n con unct1on with the pipe 122 as a safety device to prevent raising the bell to an undesirable height; means for supplying Water to the condensation box are providedby the pipe 1247 having the open nozzle 125 arranged exteriorly of the base. 7 I

The foregoing elements constitute the gas making apparatus and it now remains to describe the purifying means used in connection, which consist of cylindrical tank mountedon a base 131 resting upon any suitable foundation and provided with openings for ventilation extending through its walls. The tank 130 has head 133 secured by bolts 13-1 and tight bottom 135 similarly fastened to flanges formed integral with the tank at each end; Within thetank are disposed a plurality of circular perfo- 1 rated plates 136 having rigid upstanding by Letters Patent, is J 1. In an acetylene gas generatonthe comhandlesfor bail members 137 upon which the next succeeding plate may rest, thejlast of the series'having its handle just belowthe head 133.

The pipe 120 entersr a cock'1d0 having an a circular plate 1&5 toiavhichit is rigidly secured: in such manner as to render it 1mpossible to get at the bolts 13% when the cock is open, but when the cock is closed,by

turningthe' stem 141 the cover plate is- Hung to one side thereby giving free ac- V cess to the bolts so that the head 133 may be removed, the plates 136 withdrawn and the purifying material disposed thereon renewed, From the cock 1410 is a pipe 1-47 passing through one of the openings in the base 131 where it isV-joined to a vertical pipe 118extending upfthrough the bottom plate 135nearly to the head 133 passing through the perforate plates 136 and dis-' char ing gas atlits. open top. The discharged gasis now forced by the'pressure of the gas bellto pass down through.purify-' ing and filteringmaterial disposed onrthe perforated plates. and eventually out through the service pipe to wherever it maybe required,

Having thus described my invention and ascertained its operation, purpose and use,

what I claim as new and desire to secure ion bination with a water tankand an inverted 5 7 gas bell movable thereon, of a supply tank having an open "passage to said water tank, a supply pipe thereto having avalve controlling the passage therethrough, a lever operating the valve, said lever having a floatnormally controlled by the height of water lIiSZllCl tank and a member attached to said bell engageable with said lever whereby the water supply is closedjwhen said bell descends below a fixed limit;

r 2.111 a gas generator, the combination with a water tank and a gas bell movable thereon, of an auxiliary tank connected.

therewith by Van open passage, a supply] "pipe thereto, a valve controlling saidsupply pipe, a buoyant float combined with said valve adapted to operate relative to a predetermined water level and means combined with said gas bell for positively closing said valve irrespective of the float, said means being operative only when said gas bell passes below a predetermined limit.

3. In a gas generator, the combination with a. gascmeter having a water seal and a gas bell movable therein, of means for normally maintaining a substantially fixed water level in said gasometer, and means combined with said gas bell for independently closing the Water supply thereto, when the gas is exhausted below a definite amount.

l. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination With a gasometer, having a Water seal and carbid chambers; of a tray arranged on said gasoineter, partitions formed in said tray, corresponding to said carbid chambers, said partitions being perforated adjacent to their lower edges, pipes communicating between the compartments formed by the partition and their corresponding carbid chambers, an open vessel above said tray having water connections with the Water seal, means for breaking said Water connections, said means becoming operable upon an abnormal accumulation of gas, other means for breaking said Water connections operative by a deficiency in the supply of gas, and an eX- tensible swivel cock in said vessel adapted to discharge between any of said partitions in said tray whereby Water may be delivered to any of said carbid chambers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK F. NOVAK.

Witnesses:

L. VON GRAEVE, GEORGE SCHAEFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

